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Latest Stories


Marnie Surfaceblow: Methane-Making Microbe Madness

Regardless of what you think you know, when outside of your field of expertise, call for the experts. Marnie Surfaceblow, vice president of Surfaceblow & Associates International, carefully wrapped ...


Marnie Surfaceblow (Fiction): Marnie and Maya and the Case of the Strangled Boiler

Don’t fall prey to preconceived notions—investigate all possibilities when searching for an answer to your operations and maintenance problems. “It’s sodium,” pronounced Marnie Surfaceblow, ...


Marnie Surfaceblow: Haunted Hydroelectric Horrors (Fiction)

Providing employees with a safe and healthy workplace is paramount. Never dismiss persistent workplace environmental complaints, no matter how “crazy” they may seem. A lone SUV motored through wooded ...


Marnie Surfaceblow: Bowing Under Pressure

Just because something hasn’t failed doesn’t mean it won’t—especially when an “old dog” of a plant is taught new tricks. Two women wearing personal protective equipment waited impatiently in ...


Marnie Surfaceblow: A Desert Solar Farm’s Muddy Problem

Sometimes fixing one problem causes another or leads to a chain of failures that can be difficult to diagnose. Consider all of the upstream and downstream impacts when changing equipment and/or ...


Marnie Surfaceblow: High Anxiety at Low Loads

Ultra-low loads may be necessary for large coal plant survival, but they represent uncharted territory for operations and maintenance staff. Stay informed on the latest trends for success and expect ...